In what is worrying CPI(M) satraps, who are desperate to forge an alliance with the Congress, is the reluctance of the smaller Left Front partners to part with seats from their respective quotas.
“For the greater cause of Left unity, we all will have to make some sacrifices. The CPI(M) will have to make a bigger sacrifice but other Left Front partners will also have to make some sacrifices. After all we cannot increase the total number of Assembly constituencies in the state, which is 294,” Left Front chairman Biman Bose said in reply to a question at Alimuddin Street.
Although he did not say it in so many words, political observers feel that he was trying to send a veiled message to partners that they should be prepared to give up some seats for Congress.
In 2011, CPI(M) had contested 214 seats, Forward Bloc 34, RSP 30 and CPI 14.
“Initially, all of them were averse to an alliance with the Congress. However, they have willy-nilly agreed to take Congress as an ally after the CPI(M) leaders convinced them that the Left alone was not in a position to defeat the Trinamul Congress,” a CPI(M) state secretariat member said.
Interestingly, when contacted, Forward Bloc leader Hafiz Ali Sairani said there had not yet been any discussion within the Left Front over seat-adjustment.
“In the Left Front meeting, we had just reached a consensus that if Congress comes up with some proposal we can discuss it,” he said. CPI leader Prabodh Panda said he did not understand what “sacrifices” the Left Front chairman wanted smaller constituents to make.
“Forget about the number of seats, where is the certainty that there will be an alliance with the Congress ” he asked.
Congress sources said that if the high command gives its nod, then the party would stake claim to at least 90 seats.
“The CPI(M) leadership wants that RSP and Forward Bloc should give up at least six seats each and CPI three seats,” a party leader said.
